Narro v. Edwards et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM. Signed by Judge Ellen L. Hollander on 11/1/2016. (c/m 11/2/16 bas, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

FERNANDO S. NARRO, #146298
Plaintiff,
v.

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OFFICER E. EDWARDS
SGT. DIMINSKI
D.O. MOWRY
D.O. KILGORE
D.O. STANFORD
D.O. GREGORY

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CIVIL ACTION NO. ELH-16-3596

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Defendants.
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MEMORANDUM
On October 31, 2016, Fernando S. Narro, a prisoner housed at the Brazoria County Jail
(“BCJ”) in Angleton, Texas, filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against several officers employed
at BCJ. Narro seeks unspecified relief for the alleged use of excessive force on September 26,
2016, invoking this Court’s civil rights jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1343. For reasons to
follow, the case shall be transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District
of Texas.
This case has no apparent connection to the State of Maryland. Plaintiff and defendants
are located in the District of Texas, and the Complaint concerns alleged activities of correctional
officers at BCJ in September 2016. Assuming Narro may bring these claims in federal court it is
appropriate to transfer his case.
Under Title 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), a civil action may be brought in-(1) a judicial district in which any defendant resides, if all defendants are residents
of the State in which the district is located;

(2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving
rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of
the action is situated; or
(3) if there is no district in which an action may otherwise be brought as provided
in this section, any judicial district in which any defendant is subject to the court's
personal jurisdiction with respect to such action.
Accordingly, the court will, by separate Order filed this date, TRANSFER this case to
the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1406(a). See In re Carefirst of Maryland, Inc., 305 F.3d 253, 255–256 (4th Cir. 2002) (transfer
of case under § 1406(a) to any district which would have had venue if the case were originally
brought in that district); Waytes v. City of Charlottesville, 153 F.3d 725 (4th Cir. 1998) (when
confronted with a case laying venue in the wrong district, district court is statutorily obligated to
dismiss the case unless transferring the case to a district where the action could have been
brought is in the interest of justice).
A separate Order follows.1

_______/s/_______________
Ellen L. Hollander
United States District Court

Date: November 1, 2016

1

A decision with regard to Narro’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis shall be
left to the transferee court.
2